PHILADELPHIA.- The Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia has launched Preservation Prints, a series of limited-edition prints by emerging and established artists that expresses the mission of the Alliance and reveals compelling stories of historic preservation.

The first limited-edition print is entitled Now Preserve (silkscreen and letterpress; image 7.75 x 11 inches, Edition of 55), in which Philadelphia artist Jane Irish subtly juxtaposes decorative architectural motifs from the Boyd Theater with messages of political advocacy.

The Alliance is now offering for sale a limited quantity of numbered prints. They make unique holiday gifts for art lovers or devotees of Philadelphia history, the Boyd Theater and historic preservation. And a purchase of Now Preserve supports the important work of the Preservation Alliance.

Preservation Alliance members can purchase Now Preserve at the special price of $240 ($120 tax deductible). The price for non-members is $300 ($180 tax deductible). To purchase a Preservation Print, contact Holly Keefe, Preservation Alliance director of Membership & Development, 215-546-1146 ext 3 or email holly@preservationalliance.com.

The subject is especially timely, with the long-awaited restoration of the beloved Boyd Theater, Philadelphia's last surviving movie place, in the works. The Preservation Alliance successfully nominated the Boyd to the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places and continues to play a key role in the project.

“As a ‘history painter,’ focusing on themes of heroic resistance, social and political movements, the Boyd Theater presented me with an intriguing subject,” said Ms. Irish. “An icon for generations of Philadelphians, the Boyd faced decline and likely demolition until rescued by the perseverance and passion of devoted historic preservationists who today celebrate the beginning of this wonderful building’s renaissance. The opportunity to create this limited edition print as the launch of the Preservation Alliance’s Preservation Print series was an honor.”

Jane Irish has had solo exhibitions at Locks Gallery, Philadelphia and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA), and has been awarded grants from the Independence Foundation, Pennsylvania Council on the Arts and National Endowment of the Arts, among others. Her work can be found in public collections, including those of PAFA, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Bryn Mawr College, LaSalle University and the Women's Hall of Fame in Seneca Falls, NY and in numerous private collections.

The Alliance wishes to give special acknowledgments to Paul Pincus, Jane Irish, Ivanco Talevski, Matt Neff, Common Press at the University of Pennsylvania, Shelley Langdale, Andrea Nunez, Roddy Gonsalves and the Preservation Alliance Development Committee for their work on the launch of Preservation Prints.

The Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia actively promotes the appreciation, protection and revitalization of the Philadelphia region’s historic buildings, communities and landscapes. To learn more, visit Preservation Alliance